Doughnut-type packer



Feb. 24, 1959 M', o, Jol-{NSTQNL Erl-AL Y 2,874,782

DOUGHNUT-TYPE PACKER' Filed oct. 17, 1955l NO 5 3 w W 2 @w @2 2 l r /N VE N TIOPS MORD/CA O. JOHNSTON RIC/'MRD H. .SMN/ER ATTORNEYS l United States Patent O Bakersfield, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

.'ohnston'Testers, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of exas Application october-17, 1955, seriaiNo. 540,712-

somma (Cl. 16s- 204) This invention relates to a packer for use in oil wells. More particularly, the invention relates to a packer of the sleeve type wherein a multiple of doughnut-shaped packing sleeves are employed.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a packer of the type specified wherein separating rings of metal are interspersed between the several rubber packing elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure according to the previous object, wherein the metal rings are provided on their opposite faces with longitudinally extending concentric ribs adapted to grip the packing elements when the assembly is compressed longitudinally, and eliminate the need for bonding the rubber packing elements to the metal rings.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following detailed specification, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a packer assembly embodying the principles of the invention showing the packer in its relaxed position.

Fig. 2 is a viewpartially in section of the'packer assembly set within a casing, or well bore.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements throughout the various views, designates a mandrel threadedly connected at its lower end 11 to a stationary collar 12. The 'lower end of the collar 12 is threaded, as indicated at 1 3', to facilitate its connection to a tail pipe (not shown). The tail pipe is adapted to either extend to the bottom of the well, or to be provided with an anchoring device in a manner well known in the oil well art.

A sleeve 14 is slidably mounted on the upper end of the mandrel 10. A cap 15, threaded onto the upper end of the mandrel -10, limits the vupward movement of the sleeve 14 relative .to the mandrel. The sleeve 14 is connected by a split ring 16 to an upper collar 17 also slidably mounted on the mandrel 10. The upper end of the sleeve 14 is connected by a threaded connection 18 to the lower end of a well string 19.

A plurality of doughnut-shaped elastomer packing elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 are mounted on the mandrel 10 between the collars 12 and 17, and a plurality of ring-like metal elements 24, 25 and 26 are similarly mounted on the mandrel 10 and interspersed between the packing elements. The lower surface of the collar 17 is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting concentric ribs 27, and each of the rings 24, 25 and 26 is provided on its upper and lower surface with similar ribs 28 and 29, respectively. An anti-extrusion device, indicated schematically at 30, is interposed between the lowermost packing element 23 and the fixed collar 12.

In the operation of the device, the elements are assembled in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, and the device is lowered into the well. When the tail pipe (not shown) either reaches the bottom of the well or is au- 2,874,782 Ratented Feb. 24, 1959 chored within the casing 31 in a manner commonly known lCe Vin the art, further downward movement of the well string 19 will move the collar 17 downwardly relative to the mandrel 10 to compress the packing elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 longitudinally, and expand them laterally into engagement with the inner wall of the casing or well bore 31 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. As can be seen from the drawing, the ribs 27, 28 and 29 are forced into the packing. elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 to hold the packing elements without requiring any bonding between the packing elements and the rings 24, 25 and 26.

While we have shown and described the preferred form of our invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made in its construction by'those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a packer construction, a longitudinally extending mandrel, a stationary collar xed to the lower end of said mandrel, a movable collar slidably mounted on an upper portion of said mandrel, a plurality of doughnutshaped elastomer packing elements slidably mounted on said mandrel between said collars and movable from an uncompressed position to a compressed diametrically enlarged position when said movable collar is moved toward said stationary collar, said packing elements having flat upper and lower surfaces when in said uncompressed position, a plurality of rigid disc-like annular rings slidably mounted on said mandrel and interspersed between said packing elements, a plurality of longitudinally projecting concentric ribs formed on the lower face of said`4 movable collar, and a plurality of longitudinally projecting concentric ribs formed on the opposite faces of said rings, said flat surfaces of said elastomer packing elements being engaged substantially only by said ribs when in said uncompressed position and said ribs being adapted to project into said elastomer packing elements when said movable collar is moved toward said stationary collar.

2. In a packer, an elongated mandrel, a stationary collar fixed to said mandrel, a movable collar slidably mounted on said mandrel, a plurality of annular elastomer packing elements slidably mounted on said mandrel between said collars and movable from an uncompressed position to a compressed diametrically enlarged position when said movable collar is moved toward said stationary collar, said packing elements having opposed at surfaces when said packing elements are uncompressed, a rigid disc-like annular ring slidably mounted on said mandrel between each pair of adjacent packing elements, at least one circular rib projecting from each of the opposite faces of each said ring toward the tlat surfaces of the adjacent packing elements for releasably engaging said surfaces in said uncompressed position and projecting into said surfaces-in said compressed position of said packing elements.

3. In a packer, a mandrel, a pair of collars mounted on said mandrel for movement relative to one another and each having one of a pair of faces disposed opposite to one another, a plurality of annular elastomer packing elements each having opposed surfaces, said packing elements being received on said mandrel between said faces for movement between an uncompressed position and a compressed diametrically enlarged position, a rigid annular member received on said mandrel between adjacent packing elements, each such member including opposed surfaces having axially directed projections forming crests and troughs, said troughs being spaced from a surface of an associated one of said packing elements by said crests when said packing elements are uncompressed, and said projections being adapted to project into said packing elements when said faces vlare'movecl-y toward one another to bring said packing elements to said compressed position.

4. In a packer, a mandrelhaving `a longtudnalv'akis, a pair of collars mounted on said mandrel for movements relative to one another and each having one of a pair of faces disposed opposite to one another,\at least one annular elastomer packing element carried byfsaid mandrel and having at least one substantially at surface disposed transversely to said longitudinal axis, means for moving said faces toward one another to move said packing element from an uncompressed position to a compressed diametrically enlarged position, at least one of said faces including axially directed projections'forming crests and troughs, said troughs being spaced from said at surface by said crests when said packing ele'- @sierra-sea 4 ment-is-infsaid uncompressed position,and said projections being adapted to project into said packing element when said faces are moved toward one another to bring said packing element to said compressed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,108,313 Anderson Aug. 25, 1914 1,350,553 'Mack -5---- Aug. 24, 1920 1,760,707 Mackin May 27, 1930 1,925,015 Wells Aug. 29, 1933 1,956,694 Parrish May 1, 1934 2,033,564 Wells et al. Mar. 10, 1936 2,418,493 Allen Apr.'8, 1947 2,433,942 Works Jan. 6, 1948 2,715,444 Fewel .v. Aug. 116, 1955 

